Reversing-gearing for wringers and the like.



A. VAN WORMER. REVBRSING GEARING FOR WRINGERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JAILQ, 1913.

1,105,226, Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

Z7 25 2a 3a 3/ j I 32 U 35 i a5 J n 33 33 x l 422 UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

ABBA VAN WORMEB, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A$SIG NOR TO. HORTON MANUEAQ- i TUBING- COMPANY, 01 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CQRPOBATIQN 0,1 INDIANA,

BEVERSING-G-EARING FOR WRINGERS AND THE. LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July as, 1 am.

Application filed January 9,1913. Serial No. 741,002.

To all, whom it may concern: 1

Be it known thatI, ABBA VAN WORMER, a citizen of; the United States, and a resident of the city of Fort. Wayne, county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing- Geering for Wringers and the like; and I do hereby declare that, the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had: to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention'relates to improvements in reversing mechanism for wringersand consists of the matters hereinafter described and 'more particularly appended c aims.

The invention herein is shown as applied to. the operation of a, wringer used on a Washing machine of a well-known type comprising a tub with a hinged lid for holding the clothes and water and a beater or dolly pointed out in the mounted on a. shaft depending from thelid into the tub.- and adapted'to be given a rotary, oscillatory movement.

The gearing for operating the dolly forms no part, of the present invention, the same being described and claimed in an application filed by me on the 3rd day of June, 1912, Serial Number 701,130. The wringer is, of familiar type and is attached to the fixed top of the tub at one side of the hinged I lid and my improved reversing mechanism is capable of driving the operating shaft of said wringer continuously in either .direction.

,Referring nowto the drawings :-Figure'- 1 is a top plan view of a washing machine provided with a wringer driven by my n'nproved reversing mechanism. Flg. 2 is a view representing that part of my reversing mechanism located at the end of the wringer which is toward the front of the tub and including the lever or arm for controlling the reversing mechanism. Fig. 3 is alike view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 4 is a view representing the wringer and the reversing mechanism in side elevation and partially in vertical section. Fig. 5 is a view representin avertical section through Fi 4 in a p ane indicated by line 5-5 of i 4. Fig. 6 is a view representing a vertica section through the parts shown in; Fig. 2 in a plane indicated by: line of Fig. 2.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated inthe drawings,-1-0 indicates a support, in this case a washing machine tub of familiar constructiomhavin a hinged lid 11, afixed top part 12 to whic the lid is hinged and a fixed top part 13 located at one side of the hinged lid and extending at right angles to the fixed part'l2; Said fixed part 13 is adapted for the attachment of a wringer 14.

15 indicates an operatin shaft extending in a direction at right ang es to the vertical plane of't'he wringer Brand adapted to be driven, as shown in the drawings, by a large gear 16 which meshes with apinion 1'] on the hub of a large fly-wheel or. pulley 18 that is 'power driven and is rotatively mounted in a suitable manner atthe side of the tub. The outer end of the shaft 15 has hearing in an upright arm 19 risin from a bearing plate 20 attached to the side of the tu 21 indicates a. second operating shaft extending parallel to the operating shaft 15 and adapted through a segmental gear 22 to impart a rotary oscillatory movement to a beveled pinion 23 which is fixed to the top I of the dolly shaft. The connection between the gear 16 and the shaft 21 is such as to change the continuous rotary movement of the gear 16 into a rotary oscillatory move ment of the operating shaft 21. In the particular construction of gearing illustrated, means is also rovided, as in the construction described in the application referred to, for actuating the gearmgby hand power if desired. As before pointed out, the part of the mechanism for operating the dollyshaft forms no part of my present invention as claimed herein and the further description thereof will be unnecessary.

24, 25 indicate the rolls of the wringer 14.

One of said rolls, as shown in the drawings, the lower roll 24, has a shaft 26 which is prolonged has bearin in a casing 27 located at the rear end 0 the wringer frame and attached to the wringer board 13. 28 indicates a gear-fixed on the shaft 26 and in mesh with a. gear 29 mounted on a horizontally extending stud 29 made ri 'd with the upright wall. of the casing 2 Said gear 29, as

beyond the wringer-frame and i a diametrically opposite,

shown in the drawings, is made integral with a bevel gear 30, placed in an adjacent plane in front of it and adapted for engagement with either one of two beveled pinions 31, 32 that are fixed on the shaft 33 and constitute the reversing ears of the mechanism. Said shaft 33extend s in a horizontal plane at right angles to the central axis of the stud 29 and in axial alinement with the opcrating shaft 15. Said shaft 33 has endwise and rotative bearing in the upright endplates 34, 35 of the casing 27 and is coupled to the shaft 15 in such manner as to rotate therewith. As shown, a sleeve 36 is keyed to the end of the shaft 15, said sleeve having longitudinally eX tending slots 37, 37 beyond the shaft 15. The end of the shaft 33 slidingly engages withinthe sleeve 36 and is provided with a pin 33, the projecting ends of which engage in said slots 37, 37, so as to prevent a relative rotation between the shaft 15 and the shaft 33 while at the same time permitting a; longitudinal movement of the shaft 33 with reference to said shaft-.15.

On the shaft 33 intermediate the beveled gears 31, 32, is mounted a sleeve 38 in which said shaft has rotative hearing; The sleeve 18 held from endwise movement on the shaft by reason of the engagement of its ends against the reversing gears 31, 32. Said sleeve 38 has a flat vertical face 39 on its side toward the end of the wringer and is provided with a projecting pin 40 which engages within a vertical slot 41 in a rock-' arm 42 that is keyed to the end of a horizontal shaft 43. Said shaft 43 is located below and extends parallel to the wringer shaft 26. It projects at each end beyond the wringer frame where it has bearing in upright plates 44, 45 that are located adjacent to the ends of the wringer frame and are preferably bolted to the wringer frame and to the wringer board, thereby producing a very rigid construction. It is apparent that by rocking the shaft 43, the rock-arm 42 may be oscillated and endwise movement imparted to'the shaft 33 carrying the bev-- eled reversing gears 31, 32, so as to bring either of said gears into mesh with the idle beveled pinion 30 and thus produce a rotation of said pinion and with it the wringer roll in either direction. hen the rock-arm is in its intermediate position neither of the gears 31, 32 will be in mesh with said idle gear 30 and the wringer rolls will remain at rest.

At the front end of the wringer there is secured to the rock-shaft 43 adjacent the upright bearing plate 45, a rock-arm 46.

47 indicates a controlling lever which is located in a plane intermediate the bearing plate 45 and the rock-arm 46 and is fulcrumed in any convenient manner on said bearing plate 45. The fulcrum of said le- .controlling lever 47.

ver 47 is located below the top of the rockarm 46 which is provided with a radially extending slot 48 in which engages a pin 49 carried by the lever 47. The lever 47 has a crank-handle 50 for convenience in operating it. It is apparent that by swinging the lever 47 in either direction, the engagement of its pin 49 in the slot 48 of the crank-arm 46 will cause said crank-arm to be swung to the left or to the right according to and corresponding with the direction in which the lever 47 is swung. Thus by swinging the lever 47 either of the reversin gears may be brought into mesh with the idle gear 30. In the intermediate vertical position of said lever the reversing gears will be in an inoperative position.

In order to lock the rock-arm 46 in position when one or the other of the reversing gears are in engagement with the idle gear 30, the following construction is provided. 51, 52 indicates stops located at each side of and below the level of the fulcrum of the Said stops are preferabl made adjustable in a vertical direction an are adapted to limit the swinging movement of the lever 47 in either direction. As shown, said stops are in the form of set- -screws which are threaded through off-sets 53, 53, on the upright bearing plate 45. By adjusting said screws the lever 47 is stopped in that position in which the gears have been brought into proper mesh, and the parts are so proportioned relative to the total endwise movement of the reversing gears in moving from one operative position to the other that the pin 49 will pass below the level of the fulcrum of the lever 47 Thus any tendency to rotate the rock-shaft 43 and the rock-arm 46 to disengage the reversing gears will be resisted, since such rotation would act to rotate the pin 49 through the lower shorter arc of a circle described about the said fulcrum, and this is resist-ed by the stops 51, 52. In other words, the pin 49 is caused to pass below a dead center when the reversing gears are brought to operative engagement and the lever arm is held in position until force is used to raise said lever sufiiciently for said pin to pass above said position.

The construction described requires but one movement to bring the operating lever to any one of its three positions. the necessity for spring catches requiring a preliminary movement to disengage them being obviated.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with an operating shaft capable of rotation in either direction, means for actuating said shaft including reversing gears, an idle gear adapted to be engaged by one or the other of said reversing gears, a continuously rotating shaft on which said reversing gears are fixed, said shaft being lot movable in either direction from an inoperasaid lever in either direction said stops bef versing gears, a rock-shaft extendin ing positioned to correspon with the operative ositions of said continuously rotating sha t and beingseparated by an angle of more than 180 degrees described about the fulcrum of said lever.

2. In combination with a continuously rotative shaft,and an operating shaft capable of rotation in either direction, and extending at right angles to the first named shaft, an intermediate longitudinally movable shaft in alinement with'said first named shaft and non-rotat'ably connected therewith, spaced reversing gears fixed on said intermediate shaft, an idle gear operatively connected with said operating shaft and adapted to be engaged by either of said reat right angles to said intermediate s aft, means operatively connecting said rockshaft with said longitudinally movable shaft to shift the same lengthwise, a handlever operatively connected for rocking said rock-shaft, and stops to limit the movement of said lever in either direction, said stops being arranged to arrest said lever after it has passed a dead center.

3. In combination with a continuously rotative shaft, and an operating shaft capable of rotation in either direction, and extending a shaft to shift the same'lengthwise, a hand-' lever fulcrumed to swin about a point spaced from said rock-sha t, a rock-arm on said rock-shaft arranged in a plane adjacent to said hand-lever, and a pin and slot connection between said hand-lever and rock-arm.

4. In combination with a continuously rotative driving member and an operating shaft capable ofrotation ineither direction, an shaft, non-rotatably connected with said rotative driving-member, longitudinally spaced reversing gears fixed on said intermediate shaft, means intermediate said reversing gears and said operatin shaft for driving said operating shaft, inc udingan idle gear adapted to be engaged by either of said reversing gears, a rock-s aft extending at right angles to said intermediate shaft, a rock-arm operatively connected to said intermediate shaft to shift it in a longitudinal direction, a second rock-arm on said rock- .shaft, a controlling lever arranged to throw said second rock-arm, and stops to limit the movement of said lever in either direction positioned to correspond with the operative positions of said reversing gears and adapted to arrest said lever after it has passed a dead center.

5. In combination with a continuously rotative shaft and an operating shaft extending at right angles thereto capable of rotation in either direction, an intermediate longitudinally movable shaft in alinement with said continuously rotated shaft and non-rotatably connected therewith, said reversing gears fixed on said intermediate shaft, an idle gear operatively connected with said operating shaft and adapted to be engaged by either of said reversing gears, a rock-shaft extending parallel to said operating shaft, a rock-arm fixed on said rock-shaft and operatively connected with said. longitudinaly movable shaft, a second rock-arm on said rock-shaft, a. controlling lever fulcrumed in a plane adjacent said second rock-arm and operatively connected therewith, and stops to limit the movement of said lever in either direction, said stops being positioned to correspond with the operatlve positions of said rev'ersing gears and being adapted to arrest said lever after it has passed a dead center.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 4 day of January, A. D. 1913.

ARBA VAN WORMER. Witnesses:

A. H. Parana, A. F. RUHL.

intermediate longitudinally movable 

